May 5, 2009

Greenville, S.C. -- Furman senior Abby Robertson was named to the All-Southern Conference first team while junior Lana Mackey and freshman Stephanie Field garnered second team honors in voting by the league's nine head coaches, it was announced on Tuesday morning by the conference office.

Robertson, a native of Woodstock, Ga., ranked among the league leaders with a team-best .343 batting average during the regular season. A starter in all 48 games for the Paladins, Robertson made the move from third base to catcher during the season and made just two errors behind the plate in 30 games while throwing out a SoCon-best 12 attempted base stealers despite her limited time at the position. She totaled 13 multi-hit games during the regular season including going 2-for-2 and 3-for-3 in a SoCon doubleheader sweep of the College of Charleston. Furman's all-time leader in sacrifice bunts with 63, Robertson went 4-for-4 at the plate in a February victory at East Tennessee State.

Mackey paced the Paladins in the circle with a 12-13 record and 2.69 earned run average which ranked fifth in the league. She fanned a league-high 157 batters in just 140 2/3 innings of work while holding the opposition to a .223 batting average. The Perry, Ga., native fanned 93 batters in 78 2/3 innings against SoCon opponents while fashioning a 1.78 ERA. The right-hander earned SoCon Pitcher-of-the-Month honors in February and twice garnered SoCon Pitcher-of-the-Week accolades during the month of April. She is tied for the league lead in shutouts with four, including a one-hit effort against the College of Charleston on April 11.

Field, who started all 48 regular season games in the Paladin outfield, hit .316 with a team-high 49 hits, 29 runs and 18 walks. She also added five doubles, a pair of home runs and 22 RBIs during her inaugural collegiate campaign to also earn SoCon All-Freshman honors. Field posted five game with three or more hits, including four in the last month of the regular season. The Sarasota, Fla., native, who registered a nine-game hitting streak during March, went 4-for-5 with a grand slam in an extra-inning win versus CofC.

Furman, 21-27 overall and 11-12 in the SoCon, begins play in the SoCon Softball Championship at 5 p.m. on Wednesday when the fifth-seeded Paladins face fourth-seeded Georgia Southern in opening round action in the double elimination tournament at Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

All-Conference

First Team

P: Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern

P: Kayla Richardson, Appalachian State

C: Abby Robertson, Furman

1B: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga

2B: Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga

SS: Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern

3B: Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston

OF: Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga

OF: Katie Forbes, College of Charleston

OF: Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern

DP: Mollie Fowler, Western Carolina

UT: Megen Smith, Georgia Southern

Second Team

P: Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga

P: Lana Mackey, Furman

C: Michelle Lighton, Appalachian State

C: Brittany Eason, Chattanooga

1B: Sam Russo, Georgia Southern

2B: Amber Shifflett, College of Charleston

SS: Kaitlin Merkt, UNC Greensboro

3B: Katie Boyd, Appalachian State

OF: Kaiti Kelley, Chattanooga

OF: Amanda Hall, Georgia Southern

OF: Stephanie Field, Furman

DP: Shannon Howard, College of Charleston

UT: Robyn Harmon, Samford

All-Freshman

Megan Rembielak, Appalachian State

Katie Forbes, College of Charleston

Stephanie Field, Furman

Hanna Ennis, Georgia Southern

Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern

Alex Emeterio, UNC Greensboro

Robyn Harmon, Samford

Amy Gonzalez, Samford

Jenni Martin, Chattanooga

Chelsea Schaffer, Western Carolina

Player of the Year

Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston

Pitcher of the Year

Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern

Freshman of the Year

Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern

Coach of the Year

Frank Reed, Chattanooga